Psalm 32:8-9, The Joy of Forgiveness

Friday, January 5

Learning the Things of God

God's promise to the psalmist is that God will instruct people how to live. By learning God's ways, we can learn to live healthy, happy lives.

I have a kid that is acing honors courses in school. And I have a kid that is... not. One of my kids totally gets school and knows how to navigate homework, quizzes, and tests. Another never got school. But he does learn. Just not with textbooks and paper tests. He learns by experiencing life. When he wanted to know how to perform the sport of kendama, he just jumped right in, practiced relentlessly, and took his skill to Japan last summer to compete in the Kendama World Cup. (He took 76th in the world, by the way. Just bragging.) School will never be his thing, but he knows a lot about how to live happy and healthy.

God told the psalmist that God would instruct people. But not in a classroom or on paper. God suggests that our learning will not need to reign us in, like a horse that needs a bridle to behave. We will learn about God by staying close to God without a harness or bridle. Simply by walking with God, we will observe and learn God's ways. We learn by experience. We learn by observation.

We can walk alongside God when we observe what is going on in the world around us. We can discern where God's presence is most needed, and then take God there. We can learn by watching others that we respect and admire, and modeling our behaviors after theirs. We can read the Bible and pray. We can try things, and then keep doing the things that work, and stop doing the things that don't. This world is filled with things we can learn about God. What will you learn today?

Narrative Lectionary Text: Psalm 32:8-9

I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.

Do not be like a horse or a mule, without understanding, whose temper must be curbed with bit and bridle, else it will not stay near you.